CRUISE NEWS – NICHE CRUISES

NICHE CRUISE MARKET NEWS


The Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance (NCMA) is a collection of cruise lines that offer diverse alternatives to traditional cruising. The vessels in the alliance range from yacht-like sailing vessels to medium-sized classic cruise ships, and sail to some of the most exotic places on the planet, from the inland waterways of the United States to the wilds of the Arctic and Antarctic to the paradise of the South Pacific and the magic of the Mediterranean.






American Canadian Caribbean Line has 20 percent savings on select close-to-home small ship cruises on historic US waterways with departures from Illinois, Maine, New York and Rhode Island. For a limited time, passengers can save 15 percent on New England Islands (five-night, 7/23/09 r/t Warren, RI). Northeastern Fall Foliage (12-night; September and October, Warren, RI to Quebec City). Fares with offer are now $1108-$3828 per person, double occupancy, saving $277-$957 from regular cruise fares of $1385-$4,785.
 
American Cruise Lines is offering $500 dollars off per stateroom on its ever-popular Lobster Festival Cruises on select departures in June and July to the New England Islands or Maine Coast and Harbors. The savings are available on new bookings only made before April 30, 2009. Cruises depart from Providence, RI for New England Islands and Bangor, ME (ground transportation is available from Portland, ME) for Maine Coast and Harbors. Regular cruise rates range from $3,295 to $4,685.

Cruise West has reduced the single supplement on category A & AA cabins on Alaska's Inside Passage and the Columbia & Snake Rivers Northwest Passage cruises. (Example: The single fare in an A cabin on the Northwest Passage cruise is $3,512, a savings of $1,370). 
 
Galapagos Explorer II is offering discounts from $380 to $900 per person, depending on the type of cruise and cabin category selected, with rates starting at $1,160 per person. M/V Galapagos Explorer II, the only all suite vessel, offers programs of three, four and seven-night cruises on this enchanted archipelago. All activities are included on the cruise program with two different visits per day and visits to ten islands in the seven-night cruise program.
 
Hurtigruten's 2009 "Escorted Vacations" line-up features four fascinating 14- to 18-day fully escorted cruise-tours to Norway, Scandinavia and several Baltic countries with reductions of more than 30 percent on departures through to October 2009, with the shoulder seasons offering the greatest savings.  The new air-inclusive pricing ranges from $5,799 to $14,269 per person, double occupancy – reduced from $8,449 to $14,599. Hurtigruten has unveiled two all-inclusive Greenland cruises in 2009 – with across the board savings of 64 to 68 percent. 
 
Imperial River Cruises is offering an $800 discount per cabin on all cruises in Russia and the Ukraine.
 
Peter Deilmann Cruises has two new 14-day "Fall Foliage" cruises, showcasing autumn's vibrant colors as the luxury flagship 520-passenger MS Deutschland makes its way along the Eastern seaboard of Canada and the US. Fares are reduced to $4,200 to $15,500 per person, double occupancy, a savings of up to 26 percent over normal fares of $5,700 to $17,000. Deilmann's $99 airfare package includes roundtrip air from dozens of North American gateways as well as pre-arranged shore excursions and transfers, representing a $600 value. Passengers arranging their own air receive an allowance of $750 per person, deductible from the cruise fare.  
 
Star Clippers’ new "Third Berth Free in Tahiti" program for sailings departing between May 3, 2009 and December 19, 2009, the third guest in a triple-berth cabin sails free on the seven-, 10- and 11-night 2009 Tahiti itineraries. If the third guest is under the age of 11, they may even fly for free with Air Tahiti Nui on select dates. Cruise-only rates begin at $950 per person in a triple cabin, plus port charges. Star Clippers also has a honeymoon offer on seven-day Tahiti sailings in 2009.  
 
Variety Cruises sets sail for major savings on a select number of 2009 Greek routes. Passengers can save up to $1,500 per cabin, and earn two free nights at an Athens hotel and a free half-day sightseeing tour. Variety Cruises' intimate 50-passenger vessels showcase Greece like no traditional ship can, offering itineraries to lesser-known islands and more time at each port of call.
 
Voyages of Discovery’s Winter Voyages 2009/10 program begins with the Passage to India itinerary. The 26-night Barcelona to Mumbai cruise features two-for-one savings plus Free Air from select Voyages of Discovery gateways. The second person only pays $295 port charges. If booked by April 30, 2009 travelers can take advantage of an additional 10 percent Launch Offer discount. Brochure fare is $8,595 for a minimum Category O and the 10 percent Launch Offer fare is $7,765.





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